Day #1 I Am Thankful For. . . .

NOVEMBER 1ST!!

Why?   Because it means the LONG, LONG, L O N G Halloween weekend has finally come to an end!  And it means I'm finally blogging again.  I decided that everyday, throughout the month of November I want to post about something that I am thankful for.  Big or small, from the very important to the very meaningless (like the fact that Halloween is officially over).
And speaking of Halloween, here is just a glimpse of ours!

Too bad I didn't take this before Lexi fell asleep!

 But here she is looking a lot like Logan and Janie!  She was so mellow that afternoon and not quite herself and later on we found out why--my poor baby has the flu.

Earlier that day we carved our pumpkins. This year the kids were on their own. Lexi just wanted to be held and Jared was at work. Holding a baby and trying to carve a pumpkin are two things that don't go well together.  (Trust me-I know what I'm talking about)!  Luckily for me I had Logan who was super sweet and helped Chloe and Janie carve theirs.  My niece Anna was there helping us out too!

Jared dressed up for the students this year.  He said it took them a minute to figure out it was him.  He was a good sport and wore this while he took the kids trick or treating.  OUR kids LOVED seeing him dressed up!

                        Hope you had a Happy Halloween!

Introducing Our Newest Little Lady.....

Lexi Jae

Our little Lexi arrived on Thursday, May 12th at 12:18 pm. She was 6 lbs 15 ounces and 18 1/2 inches long.

She has completely won me over.   Number Six just might be the sweetest!

Here's how her story began:

The Tuesday before she was born I was at the hospital being monitored for decreased fetal movement. On the monitor the baby looked great, but because I had an anterior placenta I wasn't feeling her move very often.  It had been about 17 LONG hours that I had last felt her move, so the doctor wanted to make sure she was doing okay. Luckily the monitor was showing a strong heartbeat and FINALLY while at the hospital I felt her move. 
After that little scare I told Jared that I could hang in there until the 18th (if you know me-you know I struggle a teensy bit mentally at the end of a pregnancy).  No problem as long as she was doing good, but to my SURPRISE my doctor (Dr. N) didn't want me to have to come in every other day and be monitored.  So he asked  if I wanted to be induced on Thursday.  Hmmm... let me think about it.. . .  OF COURSE!

So Thursday morning bright and early (and 6 days before my due date) Jared and I headed off to the hospital.  And I didn't even have to get my blood pressure high to make my induction happen!

We got to the hospital about six in the morning and finally at around 7:45 I was being dripped with my miracle drug. (Whoever invented pitocin is going to get a BIG high five from me in heaven!)

Things were going just like my other five labors:
* Water broken--CHECK!
* IV in--CHECK!
*Antibiotics for Strep B being dripped into that IV--CHECK!
*Pitocin doing its thing--CHECK!
*Epidural in--CHECK!
*Waiting for the epidural magic to kick in-- umm... not to much.

At first it seemed like all was well.  That incredible feeling of total numbness was working its way on up and then it just stopped.  I kept thinking -- "it's going to start working better any minute now" - "It's not too bad-I can handle this for a little bit longer."

However, my amazing nurse (Emily) realized that not all was well and grabbed the anaesthesiologist for me before he went in for a C Section.   And bless his soul he really wanted to make sure I felt NOTHING!  Which is pretty much what happened as far as my legs were concerned.  A "little" overdosed, but hey I'm not complaining!

Just a few minutes after my overdose Emily (my nurse remember) came hurrying in.
And that is where the chaos began.

Emily had just checked me a few minutes earlier (I was a 5 and everything was okay)  But the next thing I knew was I was being put on oxygen, the baby was getting an internal monitor put on, and I was being told to move from side to side (easier said than done when you've just been paralyzed and can move as well as a beached whale).  Lexi's heart rate was DROPPING, dropping with each contraction and I could tell Emily was a little panicked.

When she went to put the monitor on Lexi's head she said no wonder your epidural wasn't working you're dilating FAST!  I was a 9 almost a 10 and Lexi was ready to come out.  Emily's panic turned from baby not doing well to I hope the doctor can get here in time.  At that point I started to relax knowing things were turning out just like my other labors. 
*Baby is coming now!--CHECK!
*Don't push!--CHECK!
*Wait for the doctor--CHECK!

 Dr. N walked into the room just then.  Got his gown on and told me I could push in just a second.  I laughed and told him I really hoped I could (remember-me & my temporarily paralysis).  Luckily  half of a push later (if even that) and our little lady Lexi made her grand entrance into the world.

 

What a Day, What a Week, What a Month!!

I have NO idea why I thought May would be a carefree month. I feel like I have been on some reality show where the idea is to film mothers running at full speed until they collapse.

But since yesterday was the last day of school I'm hoping that life calms down just a bit.

Don't get me wrong. I'm all prepared to hear:

"I'm bored, There's Nothing to Do, What! It's our summer vacation, why do we have to clean the house today!"

Yep, mentally I'm ready. (At least I'm telling myself that), but I won't deny that I'm SO glad to be taking a break from: the morning mayhem, the who sits where on the ride to school smack-down, the last minute remembering that I'm supposed to help for the class party today, the waking up of a sleeping toddler to go and pick kids up from school, the homework! . . . . I think you get my point.

Not only did the month of May bring me close to collapse, but it also means I get to do a whole lotta posts about what transpired during those weeks. It might take me all of today, it might take me a week, it might even take a month, but my goal is to post them all. So starting with this past Thursday and working my way back--here I go.

Our Janie graduated from preschool Thursday night! It was fun watching her sit up there-TRYING her very best to NOT talk. She looked so grown up. As my kids are getting older I'm starting to realize how very short my time with them is. I can't believe she will be starting Kindergarten in just a couple of months!

Janie is one smart cookie! I can't get over some of the things her little mind thinks up. She's a little on the sassy side and I'm pretty sure that her high school Drama Department is going to LOVE her!

Her graduation ceremony was very short (THANK YOU Mrs. Heather!)

They did a few little songs for the parents-here's a little sample:

the teacher handed out some very cute books she made for each child showing what they did for the year, and of course they got their diplomas.

It ended with a slide show of pictures showing the kids in the classroom playing, making their projects, and on all their many field trips. All I can say is I have one very DARLING and very photogenic child!

Congrats my Janie girl! We are so proud of all the hard work you put into school this year!

Chloe's New Do!

What can I say-it had to be done!

The 'bob' seems to be a right of passage for these Girls!

Chloe was so good while getting it cut. She sat (yes SHE sat! Very still I might add) and acted like nothing was happening. Afterwards she kept looking in the mirror and smiling.

I'm loving it and apparently so is she!

Spring has Sprung

No your eyes aren't deceiving you. It's my blog. I've just been playing around a bit. Not sure if I'll keep it or not--it's a little too busy. I'm not into busy. BUT I do love the new feature that just lets me click on my kids pictures to take me to their blogs!

Just a quick little update to let everyone know we are still here! I've taken a little break from the blogging life, but I've recommitted to doing better.

I have so much to catch up on, but right now I'll just post a few pictures of the kids in their new Easter duds. The kids were fairly cooperative this year in letting me take their Easter pictures.

LOVE this picture of Logan. It's a rare thing to get a genuine smile out of this kid.

Totally diggin' Mad's dress this year. Yellow is her favorite color and she was so excited about this dress.

Meg's Easter dress looks darling on her! The picture doesn't do it justice. It has the cutest flair out at the bottom.

FINALLY we found a dress for Janie that she doesn't complain about it itching her all Sunday long! Her only complaint is that is was green and not blue- her favorite color. I mean after all Maddie got a dress in her favorite color, why can't she have a dress in her favorite color. Life's NEVER fair for our Janie girl (or so she reminds us on a daily basis).

And finally here is my little Chloe, who is not so little anymore. All I can say is that a white dress on Chloe doesn't stay white for too long!

King of the Klondike

This weekend Jared and Logan headed up to the hills for the Klondike (the scout camp out in the SNOW!) Since Logan turned 11 and officially became a Boy Scout this was his very first overnight camp out.

And I cannot put into words the energy that was bouncing off Logan as he waited for Jared to get home so they could leave!

Father and Son (Love this one):

Logan in his element!:

Some of the boys in the ward. Doesn't Logan look like he's having a good time!!:

Getting ready to test out their sled. Can you see Logan?:

It hasn't snowed too much in the past few weeks, but during the night it did snow and it continued into the morning. They both said it wasn't too cold though and I was informed I sent way too many blankets with them.

Jared doesn't have fond memories of snow camping as a boy scout. So I was really hoping this time he'd have a better experience! I think he did!

Here's what they had to say:

Logan said, "It was fun to do the sledding and all the activities. It was good food!

Jared said, "Good food, fun activities, great scenery. and good company."